February 24, 2006

Mountain Lion sightings prompt EVC police to take precautionary measures

Lion spotted over the past 4-6 weeks lead to warning signs on campus

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

A recent increase in mountain lion sightings at Evergreen Valley College has prompted campus police to post signs for visitors informing them of a nearby habitat for the wildlife.

The signs, posted at entryways into the college, are a precautionary measure, said San Jose City/Evergreen Valley College District Police Chief Steve Cushing. Cushing said he’s personally seen the predator twice, and that others have also spotted a mountain lion, as well as coyotes and bobcats.

Still, Cushing said the issue is not of great concern, given the fact that sightings of mountain lions and other wildlife are common in the hills surrounding the campus. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, citing just 15 verified attacks in California since 1890, including six fatalities.

“We’re not overly concerned because the cat hasn’t been overly aggressive,” said Cushing, who added that he believes there is only one mountain lion in the area. “It’s staying in its territory.”

Cushing said prior to the latest sightings, which began four to six weeks ago, the last time a mountain lion was spotted near the hills of the campus was nearly four years ago. Still, Cushing said he felt concerned enough, after hearing from members of the campus community, to post the signs.

“The campus community urged that we notify the campus at large, which we’ve done numerous times,” said Cushing, who distributed emails to campus employees, notifying them of the issue.

The recent sightings, according to both Santa Clara County Vector Control and Cushing, are the result of an abundant food source available to the wildlife in the east hills.

Mike Phillips, a wildlife technician for Santa Clara County Vector Control, said predators in the hills feed on feral cats and bunnies, as well as rodents. Phillips said he believes there are people who are releasing the feral animals into the hills near campus, causing predators to seek out the abundant food supply.

“It’s making the neighborhoods go nuts when they see these predators,” Phillips said. “When we create a food station for them, it creates a problem.”

Evergreen Valley College police placed signs, such as this one, at entryways into the campus warning visitors of a mountain lion habitat nearby. Photo by Jeff Frazee

Cushing said he’s also aware of people releasing feral animals into the hills.

Phillips said the problem of feral cats and bunnies released into the wild are not only confined to Evergreen Valley College, but throughout the county.

“Mother Nature provides plenty of food for these animals,” said Phillips. “…When people introduce other foods, the population of wildlife will rise to meet the amount of the food source.”

Phillips urged concerned neighbors to look at their properties and see if they are attracting wildlife to the area as well. He said issues such as unpicked fruit trees, bird feeders with too much food in them and inadequate fencing around the home make it easier for wildlife to end up in someone’s backyard, which in turn endangers unattended household pets and small children. Phillips added that Vector Control offers free home and garden inspections to county residents.

The California Department of Fish and Game also offers several preventative tips for the home:

- Don’t feed deer – this attracts mountain lions

- Deer-proof your landscaping

- Trim hedges to reduce hiding places for mountain lions

- Don’t leave small children or pets outside unattended

- Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house

- Provide secure shelter for sheep, goats and other vulnerable animals

For more information about Santa Clara County Vector Control’s home and garden inspections, call (408) 792-5010 or log on to http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/vector/.

For more preventative tips if encountering a mountain lion, got to the Department of Fish and Game’s mountain lion website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lion/index.html.